Painter Wasim Kapoor died in his central Kolkata home on Monday. He was 71.
Kapoor suffered a cardiac arrest, said family members.
An alumnus of the Indian College of Arts and Draftsmanship, Kapoor, always seen wearing black, is known for his portrayals of pain, angst and suffering.
His preferred medium was oil on canvas. His subjects have been varied — from Indian women involved in daily chores, Kolkata rickshaws and prostitutes to Jesus Christ.
“Ninety per cent of my work is about the suffering of women,” the artist had said in multiple interviews.
Kapoor won multiple awards.
He had painted a life-size portrait of Jyoti Basu, unveiled at the Bengal Assembly to mark the veteran leader’s 96th birth anniversary.
Kapoor, who was born in Lucknow, had to spend years in a hospital because of an injury sustained almost immediately after his birth. His interest in art was stoked by his brother’s drawing books while at his hospital bed, Kapoor said in interviews later.
His father was Salik Lucknawi, a renowned Urdu poet.
“The bright smile that he flashed spoke a lot about him. Despite his ailment, he never looked depressed. He would always be warm and cheerful,” said painter Aditya Basak, who has known Kapoor for decades.
Kapoor was a bachelor and lived with his brothers and their families. He will be buried on Wednesday, when some relatives return from abroad, said a family member.